By Henry Nsubuga

FRANCIS Lukooya Mukoome the NRM flag-bearer, has won the Mukono district LC5 seat.

He garnered 31,177 votes defeating his immediate rivals; Godfrey Kiregga Musisi (DP) who got 15,666 votes, Sooka Munonye Makanga (independent) with 9,665 votes and Andrew Ssenyonga (independent) with 1,849 votes.

Mukono district returning officer Francis Nkurunziza on Thursday declared Lukooya the winner after tallying all the results from the fifteen sub-counties in the district.

Lukooya faced stiff competition from fellow party members, Makanga and Ssenyonga who stood as independents after losing in the party primaries.

After his declaration, Lukooya called upon the losers to join him for the development of the district.

“We have finished politics and we need to come together and work for development,” he said, adding that he was aware of his opponents’ good ideas.

During the NRM party primaries, Makanga was first declared the winner but Lukooya contested the results and petitioned the NRM Electoral Commission.

The election was re-organised and Lukooya was declared the winner prompting Makanga to stand as an independent.

Lukooya said the election was marred with mudslinging but said he had forgiven his opponents.